Arizona State and coach Kenny Dillingham have agreed to a brand new contract that can preserve Dillingham in Tempe, Solar Devils athletic director Graham Rossini advised 247Sports. The transfer is important, as Dillingham obtained curiosity from Michigan in relation to its teaching emptiness.
“This was all the time the purpose,” Rossini mentioned. “Safe generational management proper right here at ASU. Now we have the precise coach and need him to have the instruments to do his job in a means that retains constructing pleasure, connection and successful at ASU. Not solely is the Valley activated, however the Solar Devils are about to ignite!”
Dillingham’s contract nonetheless covers 5 years, however his wage rises to an annual common of $7.5 million over that span, in accordance with ESPN. The brand new settlement additionally incorporates incentives that may prolong the deal as much as 10 years. Arizona State additionally agreed to extend the workers wage pool to $11 million.
Dillingham, an Arizona State alum, talked about when talking with reporters earlier within the week that elevated help for his assistant coaches is important to sustaining this system’s success.
“The help for them and your gamers on this nature of the arms race, it’s important to get the arms to be aggressive and even retain a workforce,” Dillingham mentioned. “On this loopy period of faculty sports activities, longevity is safety, and safety is safety for if there’s one thing dangerous that occurs. This career is risky, and safety is a vital piece that’s wanted to construct a program within the local weather of chaos.”
Since taking on as coach in 2023, Dillingham, 35, has helped elevate Arizona State to nationwide relevance. The Solar Devils received the Huge 12 and earned a Faculty Soccer Playoff berth in 2024 and are a mixed 19-7 for the reason that begin of Dillingham’s second season. That Huge 12 title got here after the Solar Devils have been picked to complete final within the convention within the preseason.
This 12 months, Arizona State is 8-4 regardless of enjoying a number of video games with out beginning quarterback Sam Leavitt. The Solar Devils will cap off their season towards ACC champion Duke within the Solar Bowl on Dec. 31.
